Timer



May 8, 1951 c. E. CHARLES 2,551,927

TIMER Filed Aug. 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l xii Erg. l. 0,7/

firm/mfr May 8, 1951 c; E. CHARLES 2,551,927

. TIMER Filed Aug. 22, 194e s sheets-sheet 2 BY ifi/m C. E. CHARLES May 8, 1951 TIMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 22, 194s Patented May 8, T951 TIMER Clayton E. Charles, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1946, Serial No. 692,359

20 Claims.

My invention is related to timing devices for controlling the duration of an electrical circuit. More particularly it is related to means for closing a circuit for a definite period oi time after which the circuit will remain open for another and longer period of time; however, provision is made for closing the circuit in response to a positive demand of an external switching device at any time and maintaining said circuit as long as the demand exists, after which the device will again resume automatic periodic control, and the period for which the circuit will remain open, will commence at the termination of the external demand without regard to the sequence of timing which existed prior to such demand.

While a device of this general nature may have utility in several fields, it is of particular importance in timing the periodic operation of a Stoker of the type generally used in domestic heating systems. In such systems which are usually controlled by a remote space thermostat, it is necessary that the circuit controlling device be adaptable to initiate operation of the stoker at any time that the space requires additional heating but it is also advisable to periodically provide for the operation of the stoker so as to supply suicient fuel to the furnace to maintain combustion even though the temperature of the controlled space remains within the desired limits.

In regulating such nre-maintaining operations of a stoker, which necessarily should be of an automatic nature, and at pre-determined intervals, it is important that such automatic operation should not take place immediately following a normal operation in response to the condition in the space whose temperature is being controlled. In fact, it is preferable that after such a normal operation, the nent nre-maintaining operation should not take place in less than the normal waiting time provided for the automatic control.

In the prior art there are numerous examples of devices intended to provide timed control for the operation of stokers` and the like. Those which have been more successful. from the commercial point of View have depended for their operation upon either a thermally actuated device or, a synchronous motor type of control. Both of th c types of timers have in the past had certain inherent defects. The thermal motor type became inaccurate because of the continuous heatinf7 and cooling of the actuating mechanism, and the synchronous motor type became inaccurate because of wear of the moving parts.

The device which forms the present invention is partly dependent upon the pressure of a liquid stream, and upon the time required for a liquid which is not readily affected by temperature change to pass from one level to another. I am aware that there are some examples of timing devices for the operation of such mechanisms as stokers, whose operation is dependent upon the flow of liquid from one level to another. My device' is an improvement over these prior art devices.

The advantages of the present device are that primarily it is extremely accurate timing sequence; it is positive in its operation; and the device is capable of having an indefinite period of usefulness since the minimum number of moving parts whichV exist are immersed in, or subjected to the iiow of a liquid having lubricating properties.

The present device provides a hydraulic pressure system for instantly initiating a control circuit regardless of whether the demand is by an external. means such as a space thermostat or other switch, or by an internal function which represents the passage of a preselected period of time from the last operation, and thereafter through controlled liquid low, which control may be quickly varied over a wide range. The duration or reinitiation of the circuit may be effected automatically. The automatic control, however, is always subservient to the external control, and the next automatic operation will not take place until the normal lapse of time from the previous operation.

One object of the invention is to provice an accurate circuit controlling timer which is operable to establish a circuit in response to an external demand at any time, and which will thereafter provide a reclosing of said circuit only after a predetermined time following the previous operation oi said device.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic timer operable with fluid pressure, to quickly and positively move a circiut controlling switch into an operative position and to control the duration of said position by the elapse of time required for a fluid to flow through a restriction.

Another object is to provide a means of controlling the automatically timed waiting period between operations of a hydraulically operated timer by the elapse of time required for a liquid to befsiphoned from one chamber to another.

A further object is to provide manually adjustable means for denitely establishing the duration of the circuitY and the waiting period be- 3 tween times when the circuit is established, and for varying such periods of time over a wide range.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 -is a rear view of the mechanism with the casing shown in cross section and certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the upper, or iirst liquid receiving chamber;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the device asseen from the left of Figure 1 with certain parts in cross section and others broken away;

Figure 5 is a detail View of a liquid pump and the mechanical linkages to parts controlled by the pressure produced by the pump, with the motor removed;

Figure 6 is a front view of the mechanism with a part of the second chamber broken away to show internal parts;

Figure 7 is a detail of the linkage between a liquid float and one of the tiltable switches taken on lines 1-1 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a circuit arrangement for the operation of the device and of a motor controlled by the device;

Figure 9 is a plan View of the lower liquid chamber, showing means for conveying liquid from the chamber to a laterally enclosed well from whence it is conducted back to the casing; and,

Figure 10 is a detailed view taken on the lines IU-IIJ of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure l, the reference character I0 indicates a substantially rectangular` hollow casing which has a shoulder portion II extending about the periphery of the upper edge of the casing. A cover portion I2 engages the portion I I and encloses the top of the casing. Within casing I0 is a liquid I3 which consists of a redistilled petroleum product having a low viscosity and a high viscosity index, i. e., one whose viscosity remains constant over a relatively large change in temperature of the liquid. A plate I4 is provided for supporting a mechanism within the casing in a suspended manner with a gasket I 5 provided between the plate I4 and the portion II to provide a fluid tight seal after screws I6 have been firmly engaged with the plate. The liquid I3 which has lubricating properties is sealed within the casing I0 and since it flows in and about the various parts will provide adequate lubrication therefor and need not normally be replaced or changed.

A conventional transformer I1 provides low voltage current for the operation of motor I8, which through shaft I9, provides moving power for a pump indicated by the general reference numeral 20. The pump 20, seen in profile in Figure 1 and in partial detail in Figure 5, is a centrifugal pump having a body portion 2! a rotor 22, and a cover portion 23 which encloses -the rotor and which is held in place by screws 24.

The pump has a first inlet 25 through the cover 23 and a second inlet 26 shown in Figure l as an aperture which extends inwardly about the shaft I9. An outlet 2'I is provided for the pump which has a branch passage 28 extending through an angular portion of the body 2| to communicate with a conduit 29 that provides for the passage of liquid. A piston 3l) is provided in the outlet 21 and is so positioned that in an inactive position it cuts off the passage 28 in such a manner that when the pump is started, it is necessary for the hydraulic pressure of the iiuid to displace piston 3! in an upward direction before the liquid may enter the passage 28 and the conduit 29. Attached to the upper portion of piston 39 by screw 3l is an angularly shaped link 32 which is connected by a pivot 33 to one end of a lever member 34. The lever 33 is provided to give tilting motion to a mercury switch 35 which is of the usual sealed envelope type having therein a liquid mercury globule 36, and lead wires 31 and 33 which extend from one end of the envelope. Lever 33 is adapted for movement on a pivot 39. In close proximity to pivot 39 is another pivot 40 and slidably mounted on pivot 49 by means of an aperture 4I is an extension of a clamp 42 which serves as holding means for the envelope of mercury switch 35. The purpose of the mercury switch is to establish a circuit through the leads 31 and 38 to an external device, such as a stolzer motor, upon the occasion of the mercury switch being moved to an operative position by movement of the linkage just described.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 2, the conduit 29 connects through an adapter 5i and an aperture 52 into an upper liquid chamber which is designated by the general reference numeral 58. The chamber is adapted to receive all of the liquid which is delivered by pump 29 through conduit 29 which is of sufcient volume to i'lll it substantially immediately and the chamber is further adapted to maintain a substantially constant level of said liquid. To accomplish this result, an inner wall structure 53 is provided within chamber 5G and extending downwardly within this wall structure 53 is an overow outlet 54, which is of ample dimension to carry off all of the liquid which will exceed the height of wall 53. Another aperture 55 is provided at the base of wall f member 53 for the purpose of completely emptying chamber 53 after a pumping operation has been completed. To prevent liquid which enters the inlet 52 under pressure, from spurl-.ing out of the top of chamber 5E), a horizontal wall structure 53 is made to extend over the aperture 52 to serve as a bale. Adjacent the wall portion 53 is another wall portion 5l being somewhat higher than portion 53. A bifurcated portion of the wall portion 5l is provided with slots 59 into which is inserted a screen 59. A tubular member 69 (seen in Figure 3) having a lower aperture 5I, and a longitudinal slot 62, is positioned within wall portion 5l for metering liquid out of the constant level chamber 59. A plunger type valve 94 is slidably mounted within the interior of tubular member 69 and is opposed in its downward movement by a resilient spring 55. A rod 56 is attached to the upper portion of valve Eid for moving the valve against the resilient spring by means to be described hereinafter, so that the valve may restrict a portion of the area of slot 52 to thereby restrict flow of liquid through slot 32, tube 69 and aperture 3l Positioned beneath chamber 59 is a second chamber 79 which is provided to receive that portion of the liquid which passes through slot 62 and aperture @I of tubular member iii). Chamber 'I (Figure 9) is provided with a laterally enclosed well 'H which is spaced from the walls of the chamber. Well 'II is open at the tsr-gear topz and is provided with a sideinlet through a conduit 13. The well extends downwardly from a point level' with the top of chamber '18 toa point which is substantially belowfthe base of the chamber as best seen in Figurefi, To more easily understand the function'of well '.I and conduit i3 as disclosed in Figure 4, parts ofthe well and the'conduit havev been broken away'to show communication between chamber IG and the well, thesamebeing shown iii-full lines in Figure 9. A plurality of postsA l2 extend through the reinforcedsidewall portions of chamber le and two of thesel posts extend through the apertures 58 inchamber 50 to provide support for chamber 'I0 beneath chamber 513V on plate I4. Within chamber 1B, in addition to' the wellv l'|,. a float member is provided which is responsive tothe liquid level in the chamber, and is adaptedfior actuating a second control member in a manner to be described hereinafter. Asseen in. Figure 7, the'loat member l5l is fastened at each side by a pivot 'lo toa yoke '11. The opposite endsof the yoke Il are pivotally mounted as at 'i8 to the interior of chamber 'l anda crossA member 'FS is provided between thebifurcated portions of the yoke; An angularV portion 8l) of one oi the arms of yoke l1 isl provided with an aperture 3i into which a` bearing member 82v is adjustably mounted and held in a fixed position by set screw 83 which extends longitudinally through the angular portion 8S'. A- bell crank lever B which is pivotally mounted on a pin 85, hasv a bifurcated portion 85 at oney end and acountern weight 8l adjacent its pivot; Thel bifurca-ted' end' portion 85,- loosely fitsY about bearing member 82 to provide'lostV motion between the bearing member 82 and the opposite arms oithebifurcated end portion 86'. A clamp [i8A is firmly mounted on` an upper portion ofone of thev arms or belll crank lever 84- above the pivot 85 andn provides means for' securingl the envelope: of a mercury switch 90- which contains a mercury globuleV 9| and leads 92 and 93. An extension of bellcrank lever S4 above the clamp Eilis'provided with an elongated aperture 89- to receive a pin 94 whichy extends from a lever 95.

As mayt be best seen' in Figures `6 and 4. lever 95'i`s connected to one end off a rotatable connection situated in a member 96 which is in turn supported on plate I4. A- manuall'y operable leverA 91- which protrudesthrough a slot in cover portion I2 is connected' tothe other end of the rotatable connection, which is situated in member SG, to provide a means of manually rotating the mercury switch 9U- to an open or closed circuit position. A tension spring-98 having one end anchored in plate I4 and the other end connected to lever 91 provides-a return movement to lever 9'! when the lever isY laterally moved in one direction` from. a central or mid-position. In its normal or mid-position, lever S'i has. no effect upon the operation of mercury switch Sil. since pin 94 on lever Q5 under these conditions is situated at a central point in the elongated aperture 89 of the upper arm of bell crank lever Evil,

The normal operation of moving. mercury switch 90 between opened and. closed circuit position is controlled by float` l5. and the cooperating linkage between it andv clamp 88, in response to liquid level. in. chamber The manually operable means will positively move the switch to either position, but, as will be explained later, even though switch Si). be manually moved to an open circuit position, the

" nects to a valve stem 4l..

deviceV isV still subservient toal demandcf'romian exterior switch such as a roomY thermostat.`

In the steps of conducting liquidV from chamber 5D in suiiicient quantity to ill chamber l0 within av regulated period of time; and'a-lso'in thesteps of conveying liquid from chamber llfto-casing lll in a regulated period of time,` it isl essential to prevent the-flow of aA portion of the liquid-,out of? chamber l5' during the period when additional liquid is entering the chamber. To accomplish this, means are shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 andf9. A bell crank lever l-2V is pivotally mounted on the side-of chamber'll by fastening means 44. At one end, the bell crank is provided with an Lip-turned portion 43a within which is arr elongated aperture 45 that slidably fits over a pinY 46 (see Figure 2) extending from the-lower angular portion of` l'inkr32. On the other side ofpivot- 44 the bell crank d3 is formed in anV inverted U-shape with one of the legs 43hsituated on the outside ofchamber l'- andthe other leg 43o extending within the interior of. chamber 7|!v (see Figure 5). The inner'leg. 43e is` angularly bent to form a horizontal1 extension which con- The valve stem 45| has surrounding it a return spring 48'. The. valve stem 4l moves in a vertical manner with respect to a valve seat 4Q that is situated in the` horizontal conduit 13" located on an inner sidewall of chamber 'H3 in lateral communication with well "II Thus the normal liquidfexit fromchamber" 1B is past valve se-at 49, through conduit 73 and well TI, since the well isclosed on its lateral sides and is provided with a top opening which is above the normal liquid levelA in chamber l0.

Referring next to Figures-2, 4, 6v and 9, asyphon Illu is shown mounted in rela-tion to ychamberV 16 with one of its legsf extending through the top openingv of the well 'Hf to a point below-the base of'chamber 7G', and its other leg extending over the side of chamber lilA and directed into casing Ill. Syphon If" is adapted for vertical movement with relation tofchamberlf and well 'l IY by a mechanical linkage which is manually operable by means situated above plate- Ill. The mechanical linkage-consists'of a loop IBI; which encircles the top U-shaped portion of syphon I. Loop IQI is fastenedy to a bracket |52- which is ivotally connected to one endI of a lever- H33` by a pin Illfio on a block |84. The block H34 (Figure 2) is vertically slidable in a track |64?? that is; formed integralywith: aside wally of casing 59, At its other end lever |63 isfangularly turned and rotatably mounted on a fixed pivot |65 that is fastened to casing 59. A bell crank lever IllB is provided with a pivot lllf which is slidably movable in elongated' aperture |06 in lever I 33; The bell crank lever Illl is rotatable about a pivot I-B that extends from a U-shaped stationary bracket mea. The bracket H330; is` attached at |0917 toy track iilb. Atl its otherv end bell' cran-k lever |88 carries a frictionless roller II-- by a pivot ifi-I'. Supportedv by plate- I 4 is a rod II3= whose vertical movement is controlled by manually' operable means toV be explained later. At the base of rodl ||-3- is; a disk I2 which abuts roller I |91 A tension spring I U! is connected at one end to stationarybracket lega and at its other end to one arm: of` bell crank lever |08, to keep the other arm of thev bell crank lever which supports roller il? in constant engagement withv disk I I2 or rod` HSS.

Located on the upper side of plate I4 are a pluralityv of manually operable controlelements and fastening means for electrically connecting the device with a source of power and other electrical devices. As seen in Figure l, a terminal block |20, made of insulating material, is provided with a plurality of terminal receiving members I2| which are located on the rear of plate I4, and accessible when the cover member I2 is removed. A screw |22 is provided for attaching the cover |2 to terminal block |23.

As previously set forth, the timer is adapted to be manually adjusted to a plurality of different timing conditions. On the front portion of plate i4, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, are a pair of bosses |23 provided with apertures |25 and |25. A shaft |23 extends between the two bosses |23 and is positioned within the apertures |24 to provide a bearing surface for a plurality of rotatable elements. A pair of detent pins i2? having enlarged rounded head portions are located in the small apertures |25 with the head portions extending inwardly from bosses i23. A. pair of manually rotatable wheels E28 and E23 having knurled surfaces on their outer peripheries are rotatabh7 mounted on shaft |25 and are each provided with a'series of apertures in the sides thereof for engagement with detent pins |2'i to prevent free rotation of the wheels on shaft |25. A step cam |3| having eight eccentric surfaces each of different radius than the remainder, is formed integral with wheel |23. Adjacent step cam |3| and fastened thereto by a small connecting pin |3|a is a cylindrical dial |32 having on its outer surface eight legends representing time periods or" one to eight minutes. Dial |32 is mounted with relation to step cam |3| so that the legend l min. coincides with the eccentric surface having the shortest radius. In a similar manner wheel i222 has formed integral therewith a step cam which is connected by a small pin |34@ to a cylindrical dial |35 which has ve legends thereon, the rst of which is marked Start and the remaining four being fifteen, thirty, fortyve and sixty minutes. As best seen in Fig. 10, cam |35 is provided with five eccentric surfaces, each being of a different radius than the remainder. several surfaces cooperate with rod H3 to position syphon |53 at a different distance with respect to the liquid level in well ll. Surface |3lb has the shortest radius which corresponds to the legend Start on dial |35 and which allows syphon to be held in its lowest position. The remaining surfaces |350, lfld, |346, and |341 are each of successively greater radius and correspon-d to the legends iifteen, thirty, fortyiive and sixty minutes on dial |35. A. compression spring |33 is positioned on shaft |25 between dials |32 and |35 to bias each of the respective assemblies rotatably controlled by wheels |28 and |29 apart, so that detent pins i2? may engage into apertures i in each of the wheels to prevent free rotation of the wheels and therefore to hold the manual control members in the position to which they have been moved. Either wheel |23 or |28 may be rotated by a slight lateral pressure against-spring |33 sunicient to disengage either one of detent pins |2l from one of the apertures |35.

The control elements described above are used to control the rate of iiow of liquid entering chamber F5 and leaving well 2|. Step cam |3| abuts rod 55 which is vertically movable through a packing gland |31 to control the position of valve 54 in tube 5i?, to thus control the rate of flow of liquid from chamber 55 to chamber iii. Step cam |34 abuts rod I5 which is vertically provide visual observation of the legends on dials Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown an illustrative diagram of a system in which the device may be utilized. A conventional thermostat |55 is shown which would be normally positioned in the room or space whose temperature is to be controlled. The transformer il is shown A with a primary coil |5| and a secondary coil |52.

The primary coil |5| is joined to power line L1 and L2 by the connectors |53 and |54. A motor |55, such as a Stoker motor, is shown connected to line L1 by conductor |55` and to the lead 3l of mercury switch 35 by conductor |55. A conductor |58 joins lead wire 38 of mercury switch 35 to the power line L1. A contact |59 carried by conductor |53 is adapted to engage the single blade of the room thermostat |53 to complete a circuit through conductor |62 to the secondary o1 transformer il, which circuit includes the low voltage motor i3. Conductors |63 and. |54 connect with the leads S2 and 93 of mercury switch @il to form an alternate circuit for energizing motor |8 when thermostat |55 is in the open position shown.

The operation of the device as a means of controlling the circuit to a Stoker motor will now be explained in detail. With the parts in the position shown in the several views of the drawings, the thermostat |53 is in a satisiied or open position and an automatically controlled fire maintaining operation has just started. Float is in its lowest position with mercury switch moved to a closed circuit position to complete a circuit to motor I8 which may be traced as follows: from the secondary coil |52 of step down transformer Il, through conductor |33, conductor |53, lead 52, mercury globule 3|, lead 33, conductor |55, conductor |52, motor |8, and conductor |5I back to secondary |52. Starting of motor ld initiates operation of pump 20 which draws oil |3 into the pump 2|! through inlets 25 and 26 and is forced upwardly through outlet 21 by the impeller 22. The pressure of oil in outlet 2l' moves piston 3|) upwardly to concurrently rotate bell crank lever 43 moving valve stem 4l into engagement with Valve seat 53 and at the same time rotating lever 34 to move mercury switch 35 to a closed circuit position. Movement of mercury switch 35 to a closed circuit position initiates a circuit to Stoker motor |55, which may be traced as follows: from line voltage conductor L1, through conductor |55, motor |55, conductor |5, lead 37, mercury globule 36, lead 33, and conductor |58 back to line voltage conductor L2, whereupon Stoker motor |55 begins delivering fuel to the furnace. As soon as piston 30 moves away from the opening 23, the oil being moved by pump 25 passes through conduit 29 and adapter 5| into chamber 50. The rate at which oil is delivered by pump 2|! to chamber 5|) is such that despite the openings 55 and 62, the chamber is quickly lled to a point where a large surplus of oil overows wall structure 53 and returns to casing I il through the opening 55. Thus it should be understood that the capacity of pump 23 is such as to rlll chamber 50 and maintain a substantially constant level of liquid therein within a few seconds after motor I8 has `been energized. Under these conditions oil is now flowing through s lot E2 and out of aperture 6I into chamber 'Eil in a quantity dependent upon the position of valve 64 so as to illl chamber l within the time specified by the 'setting of dial vI 32. When chamber ii] has been iilled to a predetermined level, float "I5, through the lost motion connection 'provided between bearing 82 and the end projections 86 of the bell crank lever 84 will move mercury switch to an inoperative Vposition thus breaking the circuit to motor I8. When motor I8 and pump 2S cease to operate, piston'SQ in the absence of liquid pressure will drop to its lowest position causing mercury switch 35 to move to aninoperative position and rotating bell crank lever d3 so as to cause valve stem 41 to move away from 'its seat 4.9. Opening or" the circuit through mercury switch 35 terminates operation of stoker lmotor |55 and the movement of valve 'stem 41 away from its seat de causes oil to flow-from chamber 'i5 through valve seat 49 and conduit 'I3 into Vwell 'II until the liquid level in the well is 'substantially the same as that in chamber "Hl, The stand-by period commences at the time that motor 'I3 ceases to operate and is regulated by the time required for syphon i B to reduce the liquid level in chamber 'I5 and Well 'EI to a point at which oil will no longer flow `from chamber 'ID through valve seat 49, at which time float I5 will have moved to its lower position where it will, through the lost motion connection provi-ded by bearing 82 and the end projections -83 of bell crank lever 84, again move mercury switch '95 Ato an operative position to recommence the opera'- tion just described. When the pumping operation has ceased as above described, chamber 5D will be substantially filled with oil which will drain out through slot B2 and the lower opening 55. The time required for the draining operation is very short and the additional drainage through slot 82 after completion of the pumping operation is about substantially equal to the time lost in lling chamber 53 to a point where oil will commence to pass through slot 52, thus compensating for the time lost in the initial phase of operation, and the residual quantity of oil will thereafter quickly drain through opening 55 to completely empty chamber 50.

It should be understood that the device will become operative in response to a `demand -for heat by the thermostat regardless of the position of any of the parts of the device vand particularly whether the mercury switch 9B is, or, is not, in an operative position, since a circuit can be completed to motor I8 independently of mercury switch QB as follows: from the secondary |52 of transformer I1 through conductor |53, contact |59, thermostat |51), conductor |52, motor IS and conductor ISI back to secondary |52. Energization of motor I8 will move mercury switch to initiate operation of stoker motor |55 in the manner previously described. Thus even though a periodic operation of the device may have been just completed, the thermostat may call for operation at any time and will cause continuous operation of Athe device until the thermostat is satisfied, after which the normal standby period will commence and extend until the next automatic operation. Should the thermostat demand heat for a period of time such that chamber 'I0 would be lled to a point of overflowing, this will cause no material damage inasmuch as the oil merely returns to casing I0 and although under these conditions chamber IG may Iii be lled to a slightly greater vextent than under automatic operation, the standby period will be at least as long as that required after an automatic operation. l

The adjustment of the period of time in which the stoker motor will operate under automatic control is controlled by rotation of the knurled wheel E26, which through the cooperation ci step cam IBI is capable of positioning valve 55 in any one oi eight positions with relation to slot 52. rl"he adjustment of valve '54 with relation to slot 52 determines the period of time in which chamber i9 will be lled to its upper predetermined limit. Likewise the adjustment of the period of time in which the device controls the stand-by period is controlled by rotation of knul-led wheel 29, which through the cooperation of step cam |34, rod H3, and the linkage which cooperates with loop IUI, controls the position of syphon i with relation to the liquid level in well 7| and chamber This adjustment is available in four steps from 15 to 60 minutes with an additional step provided for priming the syphon. When the device is initially placed in use or, after it has been'inactive for a long period of time, there is likelihood that the syphon may have lost its prime. To prime syphon |06, wheel |29 and step cam |34 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10, until the legend Start appears lon dial I 35. By reason of the graduatedsteps or eccentric surfaces on cam |34, rod II3 is successively depressed upon coming into contact with each surface of the cam until 4the cam is rotated beyond surface |'34f where there is a sharp drop off to surface |3412. As rod II3 is depressed, syphon |00 is lifted, thus by rotating wheel |29 the syphon is progressively lmoved to its highest position lbut as surface |34 f is replaced by surface |3417, spring I'I4 rapidly moves syphon |00 to its lowest position, which when well 1| is substantially lled with liquid, will cause the syphon to be purged oi air and filled with liquid. While the foregoing is described as a preferred manner of priming syphon |00, I have also found that the syphon may be primed by capillary attraction. This involves relating the dimension of the internal diameter of the syphon to the surface tension of the liquid so that when the syphon is moved to its lowest position, the surface tension of the liquid is capable of causing it to flow upward in the .immersed leg by capillary attraction for a suilioient distance `to pass over the U-shaped portion of the syphon. After the syphon has been primed, which is an assured operation in this device, and is momentarily eective, wheel |29 is again -moved until dial |35 now shows thedesired length of time for the intended stand-by period. Thus, the time period shown on dial |35 represents the calibrated periods of time required for syphon |00 to reduce the liquid level in chamber 'I0 to a point where oat I5 will cause mercury switch 96 to be moved to an operative position. I n

As the liquid level changes in chamber l0, iloat 'I5 will move in unison with the liquid level, but to prevent its movement Vfrom immediately affecting the condition of switch 9|), the lost motion connection between the bifurcated portions 85 of bell crank lever 84 and the bearing 82 becomes eiective. In the filling operation, as the oat 'I5 approaches its upper position, bearing 82 is in engagement with the lower surface of the upper arm of bifurcated portion 86 in such a manner that the buoyancy of the oat causes the switch @El to be moved to an inactive position, but as the neat descends in the emptying operation, bearing S2 moves through the space between the arms 86 until it finally bears on the lower arm, whereupon the weight of the float is capable of moving switch 5.50 to an active position. Thus the switch is tilted only during the iinal increments of movement of the oat in each direction.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to have manual control of the device which will take priority over the automatically controlled features, such for example as when a iire is started, or to terminate operation of the device during the period of summer shut-down. To accomplish this to a limited extent, manually controlled lever 9'! is provided. By laterally moving lever 527 to the left as shown in Figure 6, the pivotal connection in member Sii and lever 95 causes pinY 94 to move in the aperture 89 of bell crank lever 853 to positively move mercury switch 9&3 to the right as shown in Figure 7 to a closed circuit position. Pump motor i8 is thus energized to cause closure of switch 35 and consequent operation of stoker motor IE5. This movement is against the resilient tension of spring 13 which is provided to prevent the device from being left in a closed circuit position and causes lever 9i to return to a mid-position where automatic control is again resumed as soon as lever 9'! is released. Likewise, by moving lever Sito the right as shown in Figure 6, switch Sil is positively moved to an open position to terminate automatic operation, but in this case spring 98 does not produce a return eiect as the purpose oi the spring is to prevent the operator from leaving the device in a condition which would have a dangerous effect. However, movement ci the mercury switch 9e to an open circuit position does not prevent operation oi the device in response to a demand by the thermostat, and therefore to prevent operation by the thermostat it is necessary to render the thermostat inoperative, which may be accomplished for example by locking the thermostat in an open circuit position or by other conventional means of deenergizing the circuit from the source of power.

The particular advantages of the device described'hereinbefore is that it is operable at any time in response to an exterior Switch such as a room thermostat, but in the absence of such demand it will provide periodic operation of a switching mechanism for periods of time adjustable between one and eight minutes, although these periods of time could be extended or reduced as desired, and it also provides a series of automatically controlled stand-by periods between automatic operations or operations in response to the external switching mechanism. However in all cases the stand-by period commences at the termination of the preceding operation. The automatically timed circuit controlling mechanism becomes effective with the commencement of a simple operation of pumping liquid from one level to another and terminates with the ceasing of the pumping operation. The stand-by period between automatic operations is controlled by the time required for a predetermined quantity of liquid to ilow from one level to another. Adjustment is provided for the time in which the automatically controlled switching mechanism is placed in an operative position and also the time between operations of the switching mechanism is likewise adjustably controllable. The two periods of time which the device is automatically operable to control are solely dependent upon the time required for a liquid whose qualities have been carefully selected, to pass through a controlled orice or a conduit of known dimension, and since the liquid used with the device is of such a nature as to maintain a relatively constant viscosity over a relatively wide range of temperature, the device is capable of furnishing a highly accurate standard of timing without regard to the ambient temperature in which the device is located. Furthermore, the bearings (not shown) of motor I8 are the only portions of the device which are subject to movement or wear and are immersed below the level of liquid I3, so the device is capable of being operated for extremely long periods of time without depreciation or Wear.

It will be obvious that some changes may be made in the apparatus herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A timer, comprising, a chamber for receiving a liquid, control means for initiating the :dow of liquid to said chamber, a pressure responsive control device actuated to a first position quickly by the pressure of the liquid upon actuation of said control means, and timing means associated with said chamber and actuated by the liquid to terminate the ow of liquid when said chamber is lled to a predetermined extent.

2. In a timer, means for circulating liquid, a pressure responsive control device actuated quickly to a rst position by the pressure of the liquid upon operation of said means, timing means actuated by the liquid, and means controlled by said timing means to cause quick actuation of said control device to a second position.

3. In a timer, a source of liquid supply, a pump for circulating said liquid, a pressure responsive control device actuated quickly to a rst position by the pressure of the liquid when the pump is operative, timing means actuated by the liquid moved by the pump, and means controlled by said timing means to discontinue operation of said pump to cause quick movement of said control device to a second position.

4. A timer, comprising, a source of liquid supply, a first chamber, means for moving liquid from said source into said first chamber, first circuit controlling means responsive to movement of liquid into said chamber, a second chamber for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid from said first chamber in a iirst specied periodv of time, second circuit controlling means responsive to the quantity of liquid in 1 said second chamber for controlling the movement of liquid from said source to said first chamber, and means for reducing the quantity of liquid in said second chamber in a second speciiied period of time.

5. A timer, comprising, a casing, a liquid in said casing, a chamber in said casing for receiving a portion of said liquid, motor means `ior pumping said liquid from said casing to said chamber, a control device quickly actuated to a rst position by the pressure of the liquid when the pump is operative, timing means associated with said chamber and actuated by the liquid moved by said pump to control the operation of said motor means, and an inverted U-shaped member for conveying liquid fromsaid chamber.

6. A timer comprising, a casing containing a source of liquid, a chamber in said casing for receiving a portion of said liquid, a pressure op erated switch, means for transferring liquid from said casing to said chamber through said switch to substantially ll said chamber within a predetermined period of time, a float situated within said chamber which is moved in response to a change of liquid level therein, a oat actuated control device which is moved to a rst position when said chamber is substantially empty and to a second position when said chamber is substantially lled, and a lost motion connection between said float and said control device which is operable to transmit movement to the latter only during the nal increments of movement of said float in either direction.

7. A timer, comprising, a source of liquid, a rst chamber', means for moving liquid under pressure from said source into said chamber, a rst two-position circuit controlling means, means responsive to said liquid pressure for moving said circuit controlling means to one of its positions, a second chamber for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid from said first chamber, adjustable means associated with said rst chamber to limit the flow of liquid into said second chamber within a specified period of time, a sec-- ond two-position circuit controlling means, means responsive to the liquid level in said second chamber for moving said second circuit controlling means between its two positions7 and adjustable means associated with said second chamber for conducting liquid from said Chamber within a specified period of time.

8, A timer, comprising, a liquid, a iirst liquid chamber, motor means for conducting liquid un` der pressure into said chamber, first control means movable to an operative position by said liquid pressure, a second chamber for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid from said nrst chamber, an adjustable orice in said first chamber for conducting liquid into said second chamber, a float in said second chamber, a second control means movably controlled by said float to terminate the operation of said motor means when said second chamber has been lled to a predetermined extent, and a variably positionable siphon for conducting liquid out of said second chamber to thereby7 cause said float to operate said second control means to initiate operation of said motor means when the liquid level has been reduced to a predetermined extent.

9. A timer, comprising, a liquid, a rst chamber for maintaining a substantially constant level of liquid therein, means for conveying said liquid into said chamber, a rst control member' op erably controlled by movement of liquid into said chamber, a second chamber for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid from said first chamber, outlet control means associated with said rst chamber for conveying said predetermined quantity of liquid to said second chamber within a speciiied time, a second control member operably controlled in response to liquid level in said second chamber, said second control member being operable to control the said means for conveying liquid into said rst chamber, and means for emptying said second chamber in a selected period ci time.

10. A timer, comprising, a casing, a liquid in said casing and a chamber in said casing for receiving a portion of said liquid, power means for moving liquid to said chamber a pressure operated switch actuated by the ow of liquid to said chamber', a control device actuated by the filling and emptying of said chamber for controlling the energization of said power means, said switch operating to energize an external load when liquid is flowing to said chamber, means for controlling the transfer of liquid from said casing into said chamber to establish a iirst predetermined period of time, and means for conducting liquid from said chamber back into said casing' to establish a second predetermined period of time.

il. A timer, comprising, a casing, a liquid in said casing, a chamber in said casing and positioned above said liquid for receiving a portion oi said liquid, a control device actuated by the filling or emptying oi said chamber, means for controlling the transfer of liquid from said casing into said chamber to establish a rst predetermined per'od of time, manually adjustable means for varying the time required for the passage or said liquid from said casing to said chamber, a syphon mounted in relation to said chambei' for conducting liquid therefrom baci; into said to establish a second predetermined eriod of time, and manually adjustable cam means for varying t e position of said syphon with relation to the liquid level in said chamber to thereby vary the said second predetermined period of time.

l2. A timer, comprising, a casing, a liquid in said casing, a chamber in said casing for receiva portion of said liquid, a control device actuated the filling or emptying or" said chamber,

means for controlling the transfer oi liquid from said casing to said chamber to establish a first predetermined period of time, liquid iiow control means associated with said chamber for conducting liquid from said chamber back into said casing to establish a second predetermined period of time, and means for preventing return of liquid from said chamber to said casing during the period when said liquid is entering said chamber, said last mentioned means being operated said rst mentioned means.

13. In a timer, a source 01"' liquid supply, a pump for circulating said liquid, a control device actuated to a nrst position by the pressure of the liquid when the pump is operative, timing means actuated by the liquid moved by the pump, means controlled by said timing means to discontinue operation of said pump to cause movement of said control device to a second position, and manual means for controlling said pump to position said control device independently of the timing means.

14. A timer, comprising, a casing, a liquid supply in said casing, a chamber in said casing, means for moving liquid from said casing to said chamber, timing means actuated by the liquid level in said chamber, manual means movable from a first position to a second position during a temporary period for actuating said timing means independently of the liquid level in said chamber, and means for returning said manual means from said second position to said iirst position at the conclusion of said temporary period.

15. In a timer, a casing containing a liquid supply, a iirst liquid chamber, means for transferring liquid from said casing to said chamber, a control device quickly operable by the flow of liquid, a second liquid chamber positioned beneath said iirst chamber, means for conducting liquid from said first chamber to said second chamber to fill the latter to a predetermined .15 extent in a predetermined time, means operably responsive to the liquid level in said second cham ber for controlling the operation of said first mentioned means, and means for conducting liquid from said second chamber to said casing.

16. A timer comprising a first chamber having an overflow outlet, means for metering liquid from said chamber, means for delivering liquid to said chamber at a rate greater than it can be metered from said chamber, a second chamber for receiving metered liquid from said rst chamber, means for metering liquid from said second chamber, a liquid level control associated with said second container for controlling the delivery of liquid to said rst chamber, and a dual control operablewhen liquid is flowing to said rst chamber to prevent the metering of liquid from said second chamber and to operate a control device.

17. A timer comprising a rst chamber having an overow outlet, means for metering liquid from said chamber, means for delivering liquid to said chamber at a rate greater than it can be metered from said chamber, a second chamber for receiving metered liquid from said first charnber, means for metering liquid from said second chamber, a liquid level controlv associated with said second container for controlling the delivery of liquid to said rst chamber, and means responsive to the flow of liquid to said first chamber for preventing the metering of liquid from said second'chamber and for operating a control device.

18. A timer comprising a chamber, means for metering liquid to said chamber, means for metering liquid from said chamber, means re- 16 sponsive to a liquid level in said chamber for starting and stopping the metering of liquid to said chamber, and a control responsive to the operation of said first metering means for preventing operation of said second metering means and for operating a control device.

19. A timer comprising a chamber, means for metering liquid to said chamber, means for metering liquid from said chamber, means responsive to a liquid level in said chamber for starting and stopping the metering of liquid to said chamber, and a combined valve and switch control responsive to the operation of said first metering means for preventing operation oi said second metering means and for operating a control device.

20. A timer comprising a chamber, means for metering liquid to said chamber, means for metering liquid from said chamber, means responsive to a liquid level in said chamber for starting and stopping the metering of liquid to said chamber, alternate means for starting and stopping liquid metering to said chamber, and a control responl sive to the operation of said first metering means for preventing operation of said second metering means and for operating a control device.

CLAYTON E. CHARLES.

REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,345,383 McKibbin July 6, 1920 1,975,423 Hilken Oct. 2, 1934 

